Vonage...

I have a couple coworkers and a friend that are both Vonage subscribers. They both like the service.
I've balked at it, because if my internet goes down, I have no phone. I want a landline to use for 'net access (since it's used for work) as a backup to dial up to the 'net.

Funny story.
A client subscribed to Vonage for phone service in their store. Their 'net connection was DSL through the phone company, SBC. They really liked it. In fact, they liked it so much, they called SBC and had all their phone lines disconnected, including the one for their DSL connection!

I have used vonage for about 8 months now and I love it. Never had one problem with it. A lot of extra features that you pay extra for to the phone company are included. The quality is excellent as well (unless I have several huge torrents uploading, then it gets a little choppy). Plus, having all voicemails emailed to me as sound file attachments is the icing on the cake for me.

You can try it out free I think for like 30 days and if you dont like it you can get a full refund. Thats what my brother did. He didn't like the quality on his DSL, but on my cable modem its great. Saves me $30 a month over the local phone carrier.

I love my Vonage for the same reasons as everyone else (download voicemails, cheaper, etc.) but the kicker is that you set up virtual numbers with any area code (or country code for that matter). Then you can have the phone SimulRing any number of other phones when you get calls. That way when someone calls my Vonage line (or virtual number) it also rings my cell phone at the same time and the first to pick up gets the call... pretty cool feature!

You forgot to mention free long distance and no extra BS charges. I get the same thing for friends for $18/month, but don't wanna spam cuz it doesn't help me much. Really, I wouldn't say the quality is as good as old analog phones because it uses the same compression as a cell phone, but it'll all be that way soon so it doesn't really matter. If you have bit torrent upload speed maxed, it breaks up your speech a bit, but all you have to do is lower the max just slightly and it's fine. Just remember, it uses 64Kbps up and down. Many newer routers can set priority for VoIP now and that keeps it smooth. Some even have VoIP built in. As far as internet going down, does it ever anymore? For power outages, get a UPS. Anyway, I love it too. Once we get wimax or whatever wifi, the car PC will ring with my home number while I'm out. Can't wait for that! Not to mention wifi on airlines as well.